Casino smoking ban introduced in Kansas, Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - “No Smoking” signs could be posted around state-owned casinos in Kansas and Missouri in 2025 if the bills being introduced in the legislative session.
Multiple bills in both states look to ban the practice and the group C.E.A.S.E (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects) behind them plans to not stop until it becomes law.
“85% of Kansans and Missourians do not smoke,” said C.E.A.S.E. Kansas and Missouri Founder Joe Hafley said. “We have lots and lots of different groups, American Heart, American Lung, Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.”
READ MORE: Casino workers applaud introduction of bill to quash indoor smoking in Kansas
Casinos in Kansas that would have to ban smoking inside if it were to next year:
There are plenty of other casino options in the state that wouldn’t have to abide by these rules like 7th Street Casino which is owned by a Native American tribe.
Plenty of customers KCTV5 spoke with Wednesday had a pack of cigarettes or a lighter in hand when entering or leaving the establishment in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.
“I probably wouldn’t go as much because there’s no kids around and that was the whole reason why banning it in restaurants and stuff cause there were kids around,” Melissa Dancer said. “This is like the only place we can escape without kids. They should not ban smoking in casinos.”
“I smoke myself and I’m about to quit so that would probably be a good deal. Everybody won’t be breathing it, inhaling it, and no secondhand smoke,” said Mattie Coleman, who was visiting 7th Street Casino on Wednesday.
Clifton Milton said, “For each its own, I think that it’s best to just keep it where it is.”
Jeff Morris, Vice President of Public Affairs & Government Relations for Penn Entertainment, which operates Hollywood Casino in KCK and the Argosy in Riverside, said they seek to accommodate the needs of both smoking and non-smoking patrons. He said they do that by using state-of-the-art ventilation systems, extremely high ceilings, and through adequate separation of smoking and non-smoking areas.
“The real power at the end of the day on this issue rests with our customers who can vote with their pocketbooks if they feel like we’re not doing a good enough job catering to their needs,” he said. “It’s a balance and one that we feel the marketplace should determine, particularly in such a competitive environment with other gaming facilities nearby and in neighboring states.”
Missouri lawmakers will return to the state capitol on January 8, 2025, for the new legislative session and Kansas lawmakers will return on Jan. 13.
“I’m waiting for session to start then once we find out who is on the health committee, try to talk to each one of those and go from there,” said Hafley.
Hafley said he will be attending the Kansas Statehouse for an advocacy day event on Jan. 21 and then at the Missouri Statehouse for an another event on February 3.
“They get it on their clothes and bring it home to their families and their children and wives and spouses,” said Hafley. “You don’t want them to hug you or anything like that. It’d be nice to not have to take a shower after the day, when I get off work, as soon as I get home.”
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